Low-cost energy saving options
A small budget can go a long way to making your business more energy efficient. There are some simple, low-cost actions you can take now.
Maintain your site
- Clean windows to maximise natural light
- make sure fridges, freezers and ovens have good seals
- regularly thaw fridges and freezers
- set up a contract with your maintenance supplier to regularly check appliances.
Insulate your site
- If there isn't any already, install ceiling and under floor insulation in areas that you heat or cool
- Draught-proof external doors and windows
- Weatherproof your building by filling gaps around pipes entering the walls
- Wrap your electric hot water cylinder if it is slightly warm to the touch, even if an A grade cylinder
- Wrap the first few metres of hot water pipe from the cylinder, high-use hot water pipes and external hot water pipes with pipe lagging.
Change the lights
- Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFL's), particularly for lights used more than four hours a day
- Replace 36mm fluorescent tubes with 28mm triphosphor tubes - check first that they can be used in your lighting system
- Make sure the lighting level is correct for your office or industrial premises and use timers
- Install movement-sensitive light switches in infrequently used areas
- Install light-sensitive switches for external and security lighting
- Fix timers to office equipment so they switch off at the end of the day.
Choose the most energy-efficient appliances and products
When buying appliances and products, consider the running costs as well as the initial price. Choosing energy-efficient models will save you money in the long term.
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Consider solar and heat pump water heating
EECA provides ENERGYWISE™ funding to homes or businesses who install residential-sized solar water heating sytems, or heat pump water heaters.
Find out more about managing hot water.
